Comparing Cultures and Qualities of Costa Rica and Jamaica

It would take a lifetime to describe the stunning touristic places Costa Rica and Jamaica both have to offer. When comparing Costa Rica to Jamaica, these two places have distinct cultures, different types of living, and popular sayings.

It seems to be nice to imagine to live in their cultures they have for a week or two, speaking their language. In Costa Rica, people primarily speak Spanish and a bit of Bribri while in Jamaica they speak English. Alternate names for Costa Ricans are called Ticos and Jamaicans are known as Tainos. The two places have a saying of their own. For instance, in Costa Rica, Ticos say “Pura Vida” which means absolutely everything you can think of in a dictionary. Ticos say “Pura Vida” which can mean goodbye, hello, no big deal, everything is fine, farewell, no one cares, and so many other meanings. In Jamaica, though, Tainos say “Ya mun” which is not really a saying but a common use in most of their sentences. “Ya mun” means yes. It is not a surprise that Jamaicans, also known as Tainos, agree to mostly everything.

Only one of these two places are fanatics of music festivals. Both places enjoy nightlife but Costa Rica is the place to enjoy latino music at festivals. Pearson claims “Festivals and festejos populares occur almost weekly across various cities and towns, typically in honor of a patron saint. Most focus on music, food and parades with horses and sometimes oxcarts” (Pearson). On the whole, Pearson means Costa Rica is full of festivals that occur often and are very popular. I agree with Pearson that Costa Rica is full of festivals because I’ve been there myself and it is shocking to see them left and right.

These two places share the qualities people dream of when going on vacation with the family to relax. Both places are laid back. Costa Rica’s “pura vida” is in fact a life of tranquility and Jamaica is not much different to this lifestyle. Jamaica has one of the most calm people ever just as Costa Rican is considered to be the most laid back country in America. Jamaica is calm, soothing, Tainos say yes to everything and say no to nothing. At the same time, Jamaica is full of daring and loud people. The difference between Costa Rica and Jamaica is the character of the people. Costa Ricans are more simple and relaxed.

When focusing in Costa Rica, there are several beaches to look for when touristing. Tamarindo beach is one of the most popular beaches you can find. It has a stunning view with waves strong enough to surf. Jamaica has the beach Goldeneye, which includes “wave runners, helicopter tours and horseback rides, as well as a beach bar and grill” (Permenter).

When visiting these places, it is important to take caution to choose the time of going. Climate is good at one place, bad in another. In Costa Rica, volcanos take place but harm no one and Costa Rica is secure. Jamaica’s “deadly storms are officially a threat from June through November” (Permenter). Although, Jamaica is absolutely beautiful when seen in person.

In conclusion, Costa Rica and Jamaica have unique touristic places to visit. They both have several beaches, welcoming people to foreigners, and love tourists. Both are places worth visiting with the family. Both have different and beautiful cultures to explore.